The Arendelle Castle at Disney Adventure World - the newly reimagined park at Disneyland Paris - was built in collaboration with UK Loco Ltd, a theming and engineering company based in Cropthorne, England. The firm worked alongside Walt Disney Imagineering Paris to design and construct the centrepiece of the Frozen-themed land, continuing a partnership that stretches back over 20 years.
Who Built Arendelle Castle?
UK Loco Ltd is a theming and engineering company based in Cropthorne, Worcestershire - not exactly a name that comes up in casual Disney fan conversation, but they have had a hand in some of the most recognisable attractions at Disneyland Paris. The company has been a supplier to the resort for over two decades, contributing to projects including The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror, Crush's Coaster, Ratatouille: L'Aventure Totalement Toquée de Rémy, and more recently the Quinjet centrepiece of Avengers Campus.
For the Arendelle Castle project, UK Loco worked directly with Walt Disney Imagineering Paris - Disney's in-house design and engineering division responsible for building theme park attractions worldwide. The collaboration was present from the earliest design stages through to final construction and finishing.
"It is a real source of pride for everyone at UK Loco to be a long-standing supplier and trusted partner to Disneyland Paris. Contributing to Disney Adventure World is especially meaningful as we mark 20 years of collaboration with Walt Disney Imagineering Paris."
- Stephen Paget, Managing Director, UK Loco Ltd
How Was the Castle Designed and Built?
The castle's design draws on Norwegian stave church architecture - the kind of steeply pitched, layered rooflines seen in historic examples like Borgund, which dates back to the 12th century. It is the same visual language that runs through the Frozen films, so translating it into a physical structure that holds up from multiple angles and distances is not a small undertaking. Forced perspective - a technique used across Disney parks to make structures appear taller or more dramatic than they physically are - has also been worked into the design as guests move through the land.
The process started with detailed 3D modelling of the castle, walls and turrets, allowing the Imagineering team to review the structure from every angle before anything was built. Certified steel fabrication handled the internal support skeleton, and a full-scale mock-up of a castle section was scenically painted for creative sign-off before full production began.
The finished structure involved a fairly involved list of specialist work, including aluminium fabrication for the spires, woodwork and pattern-making for wall textures, close to 2,000 decorative shingle panels across the roof and wall surfaces, scenic painting using references to Scandinavian rosemaling (a traditional decorative painting style), and lighting design.
The castle is designed to function as the visual anchor of the Frozen land, drawing guests towards it - where they can meet Elsa and Anna for a royal encounter character experience.
20 Years of UK Loco and Disneyland Paris
The Arendelle Castle is not a one-off project. UK Loco's relationship with Disneyland Paris stretches back more than two decades, with the company having contributed to some of the resort's most popular attractions. Tower of Terror, Toy Story Playland, Crush's Coaster - if you have visited Disneyland Paris in the last 20 years, there is a reasonable chance you have walked past, queued for, or ridden something that a team from Worcestershire helped put together.
What This Means for UK Visitors
For UK visitors heading to Disney Adventure World, there is a certain satisfaction in knowing that Arendelle Castle - the centrepiece of what will likely be one of the most photographed spots in the new park - was built by a British company working out of the English countryside.
Disney Adventure World is part of the broader reimagining of the Disneyland Paris resort. Eurostar and direct flights from most major UK airports make it a considerably shorter trip than Walt Disney World in Florida. If you are thinking about visiting, you can check packages including transport, hotel and park tickets here, or use the Disneyland Paris pricing calendar to find the cheapest dates for your trip. To learn more about World Of Frozen in general, see our World of Frozen Disneyland Paris - The Ultimate Guide article.
For more deals and offers on Disneyland Paris for UK guests, have a look at the Disneyland Paris offers guide.
Disneyland Paris Offers & Booking
The latest Disneyland Paris offers can be found on the Disney Holidays deals page and the DisneylandParis.com homepage. If there's nothing on for your dates, the Disneyland Paris Price Estimate Calendar is a useful tool for finding the cheapest available dates across any range you're considering.
For UK visitors, there are two main ways to book. If you want a hotel and ticket package only, book directly through DisneylandParis.com and arrange your own transport. If you want everything included - hotel, tickets and transport such as Eurostar or ferry - book through Disney Holidays UK which offers full packages from the UK.
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Arendelle Castle at Disneyland Paris: Your Questions Answered
Where is Arendelle Castle?
Arendelle Castle is the centrepiece of the Frozen-themed land at Disney Adventure World, the new park at Disneyland Paris.
Who built Arendelle Castle at Disneyland Paris?
It was built jointly by Walt Disney Imagineering Paris and UK Loco Ltd, a theming and engineering company based in Cropthorne, Worcestershire, England.
What can you do at Arendelle Castle?
The castle is designed as a character meet location where guests can meet Elsa and Anna from Frozen. It also functions as the visual anchor of the land, designed to draw people through the area.
